A's Yoenis Cespedes not in starting lineup, could return Friday

OAKLAND — Yoenis Cespedes missed Wednesday's game against the Angels and Thursday's start against the Twins, but there's a chance that he could be in the Oakland starting lineup for Friday's game with Minnesota.

Cespedes had a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder after Wednesday's game, and told manager Bob Melvin Thursday afternoon that he was, in the manager's words "feeling real good.''

"We're hoping he can play tomorrow,'' Melvin said, adding that for the time being the left fielder would be limited to work as the DH.

Oakland's lineup is at its best when Cespedes is able to play left field, and that means he has to be able to throw. He's had a problem in that area since diving for a ball on the last homestand, and the hope is that the cortisone will hasten his recovery.

"We want him in the outfield (rather than DH),'' Melvin said. "He hasn't been able to throw. This (the cortisone shot) could speed us up.''

After essentially giving up on any chance of getting catcher John Jaso back this season after two months given away to a disabling concussion, the A's are now wondering if Jaso can help them after all.

After this four-game series with the Twins is over, the A's will head to Anaheim for a series with the Angels and Jaso will take off for Arizona where he will take part in instructional league games.

"I have no idea what happens after that,'' Jaso said. "I don't know if there's a chance to play some in the postseason, if there is a chance to possibly move me in some postseason scenario. I'm feeling much better, though.''

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Melvin doesn't know that, either, but he would like to get Jaso, who was his most productive catcher from an offensive standpoint before the injury in Houston, back if possible.

"The way I look at is as that maybe he can come back,'' Melvin said. "Three or four days ago I was thinking there was no chance. But he's feeling much better. We'll see.''

Jaso said he's just glad he didn't try and come back even a week or two ago. It would have been too soon.

"I feel much different now than then as far as being normal,'' Jaso said. "I know now I was not prepared to play then. I felt different then than I do now.''

Center fielder Coco Crisp was voted winner of the team's annual Catfish Hunter Award which was to be presented to him before Thursday's game. The award honors an a's player whose playing on the field "best exemplifies the courageous, competitive and inspirational spirit'' demonstrated by the late Hall of Fame pitcher.

The winner is determined by a vote of players, coaches and staff.

Crisp said he was "surprised and pretty amazed'' to have won the award.

As for why he won, he said he tries to separate out each day.

"I always go out and try to do my best. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose,'' he said. "Yesterday doesn't matter if you lose, or if you win. Today matters.''

Crisp, the A's leadoff hitter for most of the past four seasons, has fueled the A's playoff push by averaging .286 with 27 runs scored, 10 homers and 19 RBIs in his last 26 games. He leads the American League in runs and home runs over that stretch.

"He's very well deserving,'' third baseman Josh Donaldson said. "He's been an impactful force for us all year.''

The 20 homers is a career-best for Crisp, but Donaldson, after watching him all year, said. "I'm surprised he hasn't hit 20 before this.''

Hunter, who was 4-0 with one save in seven World Series appearances with the A's, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in September of 1998 and died a year later. Previous winners of the award include Tim Hudson (2004), Mark Ellis (2005 and 2007), Jason Kendall (2006), Mike Sweeney (2008), Kurt Suzuki (2009), Ben Sheets (2010), Josh Willingham (2011) and Jonny Gomes (2012.